LONDON — It is the sixtieth minute of a match that’s removed from received. Play has been stopped earlier than Benfica’s Dodi Lukebakio can ship a free kick from what seems to be to be a harmful spot within the left channel. There’s a tenuous 1-0 result in fear about however there is just one factor Stamford Bridge desires to do. Not for the primary nor final time tonight, Jose Mourinho’s title is chanted to the rafters.
He obliges his adoring public with a wave. And one other. And one other. At 4, a easy acknowledgment will not do, not less than for essentially the most rabid admirers of Chelsea’s former supervisor. Prime-knotted and summer time scarves, a fan by the away dugout pleads for Mourinho to show round and afford him the best of selfies.
A lot for the soccer, the true star of the present is the person prowling far past the confines of his technical space. When crimson and blue shirts vie for possession, Mourinho stands barely half a foot away. He stands imperial. All that is his, the home that Jose constructed.
Chelsea followers have spent the final 4 years pining for groups as gloriously boastful and remorselessly aggressive as a Particular One’s. Earlier than Clearlake, the identification of this membership was no much less outlined Roman Abramovich and his billions than by the ambiance Jose Mourinho imbued from day one. Each recreation mattered. Chelsea gamers would battle with opponents, their officers, their employers. Guidelines might need been bent — the Soccer Affiliation definitely appears to suppose so — as a result of successful mattered above all else.
And that was the relatively dispiriting aspect to Mourinho’s return. All of the histrionics, the toying with the group, the yellow card on the demise: they need to be in pursuit of one thing. What has made Mourinho one of many recreation’s nice characters is how his qualities translate themselves onto the sector. Even when his groups price lots of of tens of millions to assemble, they play with the spirit of underdogs. They snap and snarl, imbuing the competition with a way of jeopardy.
Not this time. Maybe that’s only a perform of this being match two of the eight recreation league part. The tame denouement of a dreary recreation indicated as a lot. Richard Rios’ first half personal aim will not resolve whether or not Benfica attain the knockout levels with a prime 24 end. It won’t be the decisive recreation in Chelsea successful a bye to the final 16.
Nonetheless the mere presence of a Mourinho on the peak of his powers would have raised the stakes considerably regardless of the event. He’ll all the time be adored on this a part of London however he needs to be feared too. Enzo Maresca rolling out what appeared like it could cross for final season’s Convention League assault might need gone punished however a closely rotated Chelsea aspect have been nonetheless far forward of Benfica in expertise phrases. When Mourinho rocked up with Inter, Manchester United or Tottenham, he was afforded the identical adulation he acquired tonight. That got here with a caveat, thoughts. Hostilities would quickly start and Mourinho’s gamers would supply Chelsea no quarter.
If it had been something like that tonight, this might have gone badly unsuitable for Maresca, who actually didn’t want an illustrious predecessor returning at a time whereas his staff was faltering. The performances befitting their titles weren’t coming earlier than tonight and they didn’t come tonight both. The world champions weren’t superb. They did not must be. Their guests labored onerous and flashed hazard down the flanks, notably by means of Lukebakio, but solely appeared to essentially threaten Robert Sanchez’s aim when Frederik Aursnes was in an offside place. There was no bus parking from Benfica however this staff lacked the verve and motor to essentially take a look at Maresca’s. When Mourinho did spot the form of opening that he would have pounced on in his prime, it was shut down in a flash.
“I attempted to alter the left winger as a result of I noticed Malo Gusto was in hassle,” he stated. “Maresca has Malo Gusto in issue. Maresca placed on a greater participant than Malo Gusto [Reece James]. That is the problem of dealing with Chelsea.”
Finally, if the second half felt prefer it was constructing in direction of something, it was the Mourinho post-match press convention, which, field workplace although he could also be, was this subdued homecoming writ giant. As he had Monday, Mourinho embraced outdated associates and indulged in his extra reflective aspect. That nearly gave the impression to be the purpose, cameras pointed at his conversations and pile of biscuits, the matter of what occurred on the pitch relatively parked to the aspect.
When he spoke in English, he had a legacy: that acquainted reminder of his sacking earlier than he might convey a trophy to Spurs, that insistence that he’s extra motivated than ever to win silverware, a reaffirming of his standing at Chelsea.
“I thank them,” he stated to those that had so welcomed him again house. “I did not on the pitch, I used to be centered on the sport however you may have the sound. Once I’m in London, I meet them day by day. I do know there’s going to be relation ceaselessly.
“Hopefully I come right here with my grandkids in 20 years. They belong to my historical past. I belong to their historical past.”
That’s it although, is not it? It is all historical past now. Mourinho may say, “I do not feed myself with recollections, I feed myself with victories and outcomes,” however he has lengthy since misplaced the tooth and claws to take down the most important prey.
The times when he was one of many large beasts ended when he left Tottenham, if not earlier than. However in drifting first to Italy, then Turkey and now again to the place all of it started, the decline might go unconfronted. Not tonight. This was an evening to rejoice what he as soon as was. What he may but be scarcely feels related on Champions League nights.
